Gainesville: Matt Hagan preview

HAGAN GEARED UP FOR GATORS DRIVING SHELOR.COM DODGE
CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. (March 9, 2009) - NHRA Rookie-of-the-Year contender
Matt Hagan is geared up for the third national event of the 2009 Full
Throttle Drag Racing Series this weekend, the NHRA...

HAGAN GEARED UP FOR GATORS DRIVING SHELOR.COM DODGE

CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. (March 9, 2009) - NHRA Rookie-of-the-Year contender
Matt Hagan is geared up for the third national event of the 2009 Full
Throttle Drag Racing Series this weekend, the NHRA Gatornationals in
Gainesville, Fla.

His rookie season is off to a good start. The Virginia native has
qualified for each of the first two races and won his first round of pro
Funny Car competition at the last event in Phoenix. Standing No. 10 in
the rankings, he's aiming to win even more rounds this weekend, driving
the Shelor.com Dodge Funny Car.

"It feels great," he said of his strong season start. "I think we have a
great race car underneath us. And we were right there in the middle of
the pack in qualifying in Phoenix (No. 8 qualifier). It shows that we can
run with everybody out there. So, I'm excited to get to Gainesville. I've
always had a lot of success there in the Pro Mod class. I like the track.
It has plenty of shut-down area, it's a historic race and there are
always a lot of fans there, so it's pretty cool. And, I actually got my
Alcohol Funny Car license from Frank Hawley there in 2004."

Now that the 26-year-old Angus Cattle farmer has won his first pro Funny
Car round, his confidence level has risen, but he admits he's a long way
from being a "seasoned veteran."

"I don't think I'll ever feel like I'm a seasoned veteran," he said with
a laugh, "even years from now. You're always learning in these cars.
Every lap is different and you just take it, run with it and learn from
it. I definitely feel more comfortable in the car but I certainly don't
feel like a seasoned veteran."

But he does get support from a true seasoned veteran, his teammate Ron
Capps, winner of the first two Funny Car events of the season in the NAPA
AUTO PARTS Dodge. "Ron's been spectacular as far as coming over and
giving me a few pointers here and there," said Hagan. "He's really gone
out of his way to be nice and to offer some opinions. That goes a long
way in my book."

Shelor.com comes on board this weekend as primary sponsor of the Dodge
Funny Car tuned by Tommy DeLago. Shelor.com is a 24/7 web site,
representing eight new-car franchises and a used-car super store in
Southwest Virginia.